About This Work

Those of you who watch the Eurovision Song Contest will recognise the theme from the opening ‘Prelude to the Te Deum', which for many years has been the signature tune for that competition. Arranged for Concert Band by Geoff Kingston this instantly recognisable tune is ideal for processional and recessional music at occasions requiring a stately theme. It is also ideal as an opening fanfare. Although the original key is D or C Major this has been arranged in Bb Major which makes is accessible to bands of all grades.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier was, next to Lully, the most remarkable figure in late seventeenth-century French musical life, with a prolific output of sacred and secular music.

As a young man, he studied in Rome with Carissimi, acquiring valuable first-hand experience of opera and oratorio - both relatively new forms at that time. On returning to his native Paris, he put these skills to effective use, composing seventeen operas and a large quantity of church music, and bringing the dramatic oratorio to France for the first time, giving it a special French character.

The Te Deum, which dates from about 1692, was probably written for the great Jesuit church of St. Paul in Rue St. Antoine, when he was Maitre de Musique there. Its brilliance and powerful dramatic impact suggest that it must have been written in celebration of some special occasion, such as the recent French victory at Steinkerque on August 3rd, 1692.

The powerful effect of the Te Deum is achieved by a variety of means. Firstly, Charpentier uses a much larger instrumental band than any previous French composer of church music. Secondly, he exploits to its fullest advantage the customary Baroque technique of contrasting full orchestral and choral forces with solo voices accompanied by just a few instruments. Thirdly, and perhaps most significantly, Charpentier has a remarkable ability to fuse the conflicting elements of drama and devotion into a unified whole, coupled with an instinctive feel for ceremonial brilliance. These are the qualities that strike one most in this wonderful work, and it seems extraordinary that it is not more widely performed.

Composer

Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Arranger

Geoff Kingston

Category

Concert Band

Difficulty

This piece has difficulty rating of 2.5 on a scale one through 6, with 6 being the hardest. Click here to see how we grade our band sets.

Customer Comments

28/07/2017 - More great service from Geoff and SafeMusic. Very quick fulfillment of Order and really 'g... Read moreMore great service from Geoff and SafeMusic. Very quick fulfillment of Order and really 'good value' music, as usual. - Comment by Tony Fleming - Malmesbury Concert Bandood value' music, as usual. - Comment by Tony Fleming - Malmesbury Concert Band

23/01/2015 - Huge thank you to Geoff for his continued support of Jersey's Festival of Remembrance held... Read moreHuge thank you to Geoff for his continued support of Jersey's Festival of Remembrance held in The Town Church St Helier and now in its 7th year. Not forgetting of course of course the annual Liberation Day Commemoration. Geoff's arrangements are always spot on for band, choir and the congregational singing. - Comment by Bob Wareing-Jones in The Town Church St Helier and now in its 7th year. Not forgetting of course of course the annual Liberation Day Commemoration. Geoff's arrangements are always spot on for band, choir and the congregational singing. - Comment by Bob Wareing-Jones